Dry Your Tears
And the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is."
GENESIS 21:17
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Dry Your Tears
One should not suppose that these words were spoken in a harsh manner, as though he were rebuking her; for they are words of comfort. "Ah," says the angel, "why are you weeping? Why are you sobbing? What do you desire? There is no reason why you should be afraid. Dry your tears. God cares for you and your son. He wanted to crush you. Since this has been achieved, He wants you to be of good hope with regard to His mercy. Before this you, with your son, also prayed in the house of Abraham. But there God was unwilling to hear you, for your prayer was associated with pride and with contempt for your brother. But here He has heard you. Therefore believe that His Church is here. For where God hears prayers, there His sanctuary is, there the Church is, and there the unutterable sighing (Romans 8:26) of those who despair of themselves is." . . . Thus the foremost article of our faith and our highest wisdom are confirmed—that not those born of blood, of the will of man, or of the will of the flesh are children of God, but those born of God (John 1:13), that is, those who believe the promise; for it is through this promise alone that He wants to save those who are not presumptuous because of birth or merit but believe in Christ. This is the angel's message.
GENESIS 21:17
+
Dry Your Tears
One should not suppose that these words were spoken in a harsh manner, as though he were rebuking her; for they are words of comfort. "Ah," says the angel, "why are you weeping? Why are you sobbing? What do you desire? There is no reason why you should be afraid. Dry your tears. God cares for you and your son. He wanted to crush you. Since this has been achieved, He wants you to be of good hope with regard to His mercy. Before this you, with your son, also prayed in the house of Abraham. But there God was unwilling to hear you, for your prayer was associated with pride and with contempt for your brother. But here He has heard you. Therefore believe that His Church is here. For where God hears prayers, there His sanctuary is, there the Church is, and there the unutterable sighing (Romans 8:26) of those who despair of themselves is." . . . Thus the foremost article of our faith and our highest wisdom are confirmed—that not those born of blood, of the will of man, or of the will of the flesh are children of God, but those born of God (John 1:13), that is, those who believe the promise; for it is through this promise alone that He wants to save those who are not presumptuous because of birth or merit but believe in Christ. This is the angel's message.
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